Altered Book Day 5..

Well, I finally got the Ole Altered Book out, it has been along time, thanks to AEDM it has inspired me to work on it.  I have many things that I love and one is paper, quotes and words.  I do alot of cutting out of magazines, books and junk mail.  I picked these two pictures because they speak of alot of who I am.  The one on the left is of a woman of style and looks like she could take on the city.  Some of that reflects me, I love fashion (there are many things I have wanted to be and one is a fashion writer), I could live in the City (have before), but the girl on the right is ME a true cowgirl at heart.  The girl that goes and hops on here horse, cleans out a barn ( I can shovel some mean POOP, just let me tell you..heehee), has many animals, has her friends over for a bonfire to roast marshmallows and takes her family and friends on long trail rides.  Don't get me wrong I love the city to the core and have seen so many things.  But at the end of the day I am a cowgirl.  But you can bet I will be wearing my fashionable boots, a funky belt, some fun pretty baubles and my horse will have the fanciest saddle in the barn.

This is the cover of my book..I took an old book I found in a cute little used book store owned by a very funny old man. I used old wallpaper from wallpaper books, then painted and stamped the front...the little girl on the front was there originally, So I kept her there because I really liked the illustration.

My mom arrived late last night from California, we have a fun filled day ahead..YEAH!!

Day 4 Lovin This...

I am really liking this challenge, it makes me think and to see things differently.  I started looking through my stash of goodies and forgot about these little felt balls/beads that I found at a little sweet place in downtown Raleigh called Ornamentea. I am seeing alot of felt in necklaces and bracelets.  So I came up with these.  These earrings are a little like seeing a shirt on the rack, your not real sure about the shirt until you put it on and you look into the mirror and think WOW! this is going to work.  These earrings are like that, when I made them I thought  hhhmm not so sure, but then I put them on and liked them alot.  They have a little personality of their own.

I am really excited my mom is coming to town from California.  I have been in NC for 5yrs now and this is her first time coming here.  I have so much planned for us, we are going to the Raleigh Flea Market, SuzAnna's Antiques, Olde English Tea House in downtown Wake Forest.  My DH is going out of town this week for a guys weekend so I am baking him his favorite Chocolate Cookies, brownies and Banana Bread which is cooking right now.  The house smells YUMMY!  I better go check on it, until tomorrow. Many Blessings!

Beads and Baubles..

Day two of the AEDM Challenge, I bought this blue bead awhile ago wasn't really sure what to do with it.  I started rummaging through all my things and found the little key and watch element along with the religious relic (some of my favs to work with lately) and came up with this.  My friend liked it so much she wants to buy it.  YIPPEE!!

I bought a new journal last week, if you know me you know that I love to purchase journals but I seem to start them and not finish them.  Then I wait so long to go back and write in them that I feel I need a new one (maybe it's an excuse to buy something).  So I bought this one, it wasn't cheap, but it is beautiful.  All leather with the metal medallion on front and about 3in thick.  I LOVE it.  This is something I want my girls to have when they are my age to read and see some of my deepest thoughts.  I am not using it to journal about my day to day life, but things that are truly on my mind.  Wonder what is in store for my next project??

Day 1 Of Challenge..

I made the commitment yesterday to work on the project sponsored by Creative Everyday .  You will notice the "SHERRY" decanter piece I bought a few weeks ago, I turned it into a necklace...I hope to get some more of these in my searches.

This challenge will be fun, I seem to work best if I don't think to much about it.  So we will see what I come up with today.  I am working on an Altered Book, so that will be something I will be working on this month. I too ran 3miles yesterday for the marathon part of my challenges.  Today I am off to take a Yoga class.  I am opening a Yoga studio in January so there is alot to work on with that right around the corner.  Until tomorrow have a blessed day..

New Challenge..

There are a couple of new challenges that I am starting TODAY!!  There are times in my life that there is a need to truly Challenge myself, when I feel a little slump so I take a plunge into something that could send me out of my box.  The first is a challenge with November is Art Every Day Month, I have made a commitment to make something creative either a piece of jewelry, cooking a new recipe, making a homemade birthday card, whatever it may be everyday for the month of November.  I will post to this site Creative Everyday, I do have to say I might not be able to post everyday due to work and my mom is coming at the end of this week.  But I feel this will be a great challenge because there are times I hit a bit of a wall when it comes to creating.  I am excited though, this weekend I am taking my mom and daughter to the flea market and some local antique stores.  I always manage to come back with something fun.

My next challenge for myself is a Half Marathon, this one is the Tobacco Road Marathon & Half Marathon
in Cary, North Carolina on Sunday March 20th.  This will require alot of training on my part, but I have done this before.  I ran a Rock in Roll full marathon in San Deigo and a Rock in Roll half Marathon in Arizona with the Leukemia Society it has been a few yrs since I have done it but feel I am up for the challenge.  I will be posting on my progress as well here on this blog.  I would love encouragement along the way so feel free to post that here.

Well I better get thinking on my project for the day.  Until then have a great day!

Touch of Steampunk...

You may ask what is Steampunk??  There are so many elements and definitions depending on the person asked.  So I will try to explain without loosing your attention.  The "Steampunk Movement" is a social movement characterized by the the return of 19th Century fashion coupled with pre-modern imaginative technology. I would call it “Post-Retro Fashion.” Here are the major themes of Steampunk Fashion.

• Victorian Era garb. Corsets and waistcoats, top hats and mini-top hats, bustles and brocades. In Victorian days, “off the rack” meant you received a reprieve from torture. Everything was custom-tailored. Buying a “Steampunk” outfit from The GAP goes against everything Steampunk stands for. Fashioning a Steampunk outfit from Value Village ups your Steampunk cred immensely.
• Goggles. Preferably crafted in brass, these are the sign of a active lifestyle and that steam workshops require eye protection.
• Gears and Clocks. This is a rejection of modern industrial manufacturing, and takes you  back to a time when everything was hand-crafted. No digital watches, solid-state drives, wireless communication, or web sites. Although, of course, the modern Steampunk social movement is highly driven by the internet, but since it’s a social movement, there is a high degree of human contact, exemplified by crafting workshops, Steampunk Balls, and entire Steampunk conventions. (sounds crazy but they have them)
• Customization. You can “Steampunk” almost everything, by creating handcrafted laptop cases or iPhones, or redecorating your home or office, all using 19th Century materials and processes.

 So long story short it is taking something old and mixing something new into it making it a brand new functional item with old world charm.  I have always been drawn to the Victorian Era, but being the tech geek I am I love modern technology.  SO what could be more perfect the Steampunk.  I started incorporating old time watch gears and vintage finds into most of my work.

 I too have a love of Bling and all things shiny.  I took this large crystal I found at a wonderful antique shop that is up the street from me, I can't begin to tell you how much I love this place.  I added some pearls a few charms and a bullet casing (not loaded), to give it that edge.  I love this piece.

One day I hope to get to a Steampunk convention for ideas and to see what people can really do with fashion and their personal style ( wonder if it's like a trekkie convention..oh I hope not.)..

Until next next keep steaming along.

Pumpkin Head in VA!!

Today I am leaving for a girls weekend with the girls from church. I wanted to treat the girls to something fun so I thought I would bring all my nail polishes and makeup.  I too wanted to do something fun that too would represent this time year..what better way then a pumpkin mask! Pumpkins aren't just for carving and pit.  You can use pumpkin puree as an effective exfoliating mask to cleanse and rejuvenate your skin..  I thought I would share the recipe..Enjoy!

Harvest pumpkin exfoliating mask

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon green tea, brewed
• 2 teaspoons pineapple, diced
• 4 Tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel
• 1/2 teaspoon sunflower oil (olive or canola oil may be substituted)
• 4 teaspoons cornmeal
• 4 drops cinnamon extract (optional)

Directions

1. Steep green tea in boiling water. Set aside to cool.
2. In blender or food processor, puree pineapple and place in medium-sized mixing bowl.
3. Add pumpkin, honey and aloe. Mix well.
4. Stir in sunflower oil, green tea and cornmeal. Reserve remaining green tea for another use.
5. Add cinnamon. Stir.
6. Apply small amount of pumpkin mask to cheeks, forehead chin and neck.
7. Massage in circular motions gently buffing skin. Repeat.
8. Apply more product as needed.
9. Leave a thin layer of pumpkin mask on face and neck for 15 to 20 minutes.
10. Rinse with tepid or cool water and pat dry with soft towel.
11. Follow with appropriate moisturizer for your skin type.
12. Store remaining mask covered in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Makes two applications